A new trailer for the Tom Cruise sci-fi vehicle Oblivion has arrived online. It’s the best trailer so far – but reminds us this will be more standard action fare than the “original and groundbreaking cinematic event” the studio would have us believe.

In this latest variation on the everyman vs. evil organisation theme, Cruise plays Jack Harper, a drone repairman tasked with ensuring Earth’s remaining resources are shipped to humanity’s new home, after a war with an alien race devastates the planet. But when Harper discovers he’s not, in fact, the last man on Earth his world unravels, triggering a chain of events that puts the fate of humanity in his hands. Cue Morgan Freeman, corporate conspiracy, rebel alliances, and plenty of laser-laced battles.

Still, it all depends on expectations, right? I’m thinking we should just leave our brains at the door and soak up the FX-laiden escapism.

The visual styling of this film continues to impress, and the action looks solid and varied. I still have (faint) hope that there’ll be some big twist surrounding the woman who crash lands; but even if this turns out to be a non-event, Oblivion still looks much better than other poor excuses for action flicks I’ve seen recently – A Good Day to Die Hard, hang your head in shame.

This film will not win over Cruise haters. But those who still feel he can carry a tent pole film better than most, will no doubt enjoy this latest outing. If it’s anywhere near as good as Minority Report, we’re in for a fun ride.

Whose up for this?

Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack’s mission is nearly complete. Living in and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the film stars Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, Zoe Bell, Andrea Riseborough, Melissa Leo, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Kiwi Zoe Bell.

Oblivion lands in Kiwi cinemas on 11 April.